MN Timber Industry

The upper Midwest timber industry is welcoming the Trump administration's announcement that it's imposing tariffs averaging 20 percent on softwood lumber entering the United States from Canada.

The industry has been struggling in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The housing market crash in 2008 cut demand for softwood lumber used to build homes, including the products affected by the administration's move.

So industry groups in both states see Monday's announcement as good news for communities with sawmills, and for loggers who supply them.

The Trump administration and U.S. industry groups say Canada unfairly subsidizes its softwood lumber industry, putting U.S. companies at a competitive disadvantage. Canada denies that its practices are unfair says the new tariffs will hurt people in both countries, including American homebuyers who will now pay more for wood.

Talk Show Host, Operations Manager

Longtime radio man about town, Jarrod Thomas has been everything from talk show host to sports broadcaster to morning man on sister station Lite Rock 104.3FM. His talk show on 1310 KNOX brings you the perspective of the everyman, with just the right flair of humor to make your morning a little brighter.